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New giraffe exhibit? What is next after elephants and sea lions? » Smithsonian National Zoo

New giraffe exhibit? What is next after elephants and sea lions?
11-06-2011

It looks like the National Zoo's elephant exhibit is near completion and a new pinniped exhibit complex is next.

Does anyone know if there are any concrete plans to build a new giraffe habitat at the zoo at some point after elephants and sea lions are complete?

For that matter are there any specific exhibit plans in the pipeline at all after eles and sea lions? I have looked all over for master plan details. The National Zoo website has some technical documents about their future plans, but they mostly involve preservation of buildings, fixing parking problems, etc. with no discussion of future exhibit plans.

It looks like the National Zoo's elephant exhibit is near completion and a new pinniped exhibit complex is next.

Does anyone know if there are any concrete plans to build a new giraffe habitat at the zoo at some point after elephants and sea lions are complete?

For that matter are there any specific exhibit plans in the pipeline at all after eles and sea lions? I have looked all over for master plan details. The National Zoo website has some technical documents about their future plans, but they mostly involve preservation of buildings, fixing parking problems, etc. with no discussion of future exhibit plans.

Any information, insight, and/or speculation would be appreciated.

As far as I know (news articles, website, staff) there are no plans for giraffes to return. The next set of projects I believe is focusing on the southern end of the zoo with a new entrance, renovation of the Great Cats exhibit, renovation of Amazonia, and an array of other small projects.

As far as I know (news articles, website, staff) there are no plans for giraffes to return. The next set of projects I believe is focusing on the southern end of the zoo with a new entrance, renovation of the Great Cats exhibit, renovation of Amazonia, and an array of other small projects.

Thanks for the information NAIB Volunteer. After I posted this message I had the thought to ask the National Zoo directly over their Facebook page and got this response: "We have not had a giraffe here since 2006 but we do hope to have giraffes here again."

From your description of future plans, it does not appear that giraffes will be returning soon, if ever.

A zoo's "future plans" are ever changing.
Besides, in the short term the big question must be "What if any financial support with the National Zoo be getting from the US government?"

Have you noticed how few big new exhibits are being planned for any zoo in the USA these days? Not the ones that are to open this year or next, but any proposed for 2013 and after? Everything--pretty much--has been scaled down if not eliminated. But that's just today. In a year or two I expect we'll be having a different conversation.

It appears that the zoo will focus its attention on African species next:

Quote:

For a limited time, come experience the sights and sounds of the Cheetah Conservation Station behind the scenes. Guests will enjoy a continental breakfast before the guided tour. See a cheetah feeding, special training demonstration with a Grevy's zebra, and more! All proceeds will help the Zoo bring new African species to the Station, including sitatunga, red river hog, Abyssinian ground hornbill, lesser kudu, Ruppel's griffon vulture, and an African crane.

Unfortunetly it seems now that they most likely will optain Sichuan Takins instead of Bhutan Takins.
Also, the zoo has brought in Ruppell's Griffon Vultures, Sitatunga, and Red River Hogs to the Cheetah Conservation Center. They are planning more species like ground hornbill and kudu.
Years ago they said something about getting Red-Necked Ostrich, anyone have any more information about that?
Also, anybody know if they plan on adding Pygmy Hippos again?

I believe I answered this in an other thread, but to reiterate to those who may have not seen it, the zoo's next project is a parking garage. It is supposed to go in the place of parking lot C. Then I believe the zoo will stop using the other parking lots to allow more land for animal exhibits.